Hafner & Large Get MAC Honor; Zips Host Meet Friday

Hafner &amp; Large Get MAC Honor; Zips Host Meet Friday Image

Hafner & Large Get MAC Honor; Zips Host Meet Friday

February 14 | Track & Field

AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron track & field senior Randall Hafner and sophomore Stevi Large were named the Mid-American Conference Male and Female Field Athletes of the Week, the league announced today. The pair will lead the Zips in their final regular-season home meet, the 2007 Zips Open, from 6:55-9:30 pm this Friday in the Athletics Field House. (Schedule of events listed at the bottom of this release.)

Hafner (Willard, Ohio/Willard HS) set a school record in winning the weight throw with a distance of 20.22 meters (66-4.25) at Penn State's Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup. He bettered his previous NCAA provisional qualifying mark and defeated three reigning All-Americans at the meet.

Large (Somerset, Ohio/Sheridan HS) was named the Co-Field Athlete of the Week as she shattered the Akron and MAC record in the weight throw with a distance of 65-11.75. Large, who now ranks eighth nationally in the event and has the best throw in the MAC by nearly six feet, additionally ranks second in the MAC and 12th nationally in the shot put. (She is just a half inch behind MAC leader Sarah Vance of Buffalo.) Large is just one of three athletes in the nation to rank among the nation's top 15 in both the weight throw and the shot put, joining Arizona State's Sarah Stevens and Jessica Pressley.

He leads the MAC this season in the event and ranks 11th among the NCAA leaders. Hafner also placed fifth in the shot put at the meet with an effort of 16.71 meters (54-10). For the season, Hafner ranks fifth in the MAC in the shot, trailing teammates Auston Papay (second in the MAC) and Ray Weisenbarger (third).

Its marks the second time Hafner and Large have been honored by the league.

The Zips had two other athletes make a case for MAC honors this week. Freshman Anthony Thomas, who won the 200 meters at Penn State with a MAC-best time of 21.41, and senior Rachel Zubricky, who now has the best time in the MAC in the mile (4:53.50) by five seconds.

In addition to Hafner and Large being among the NCAA leaders, senior Natalie Sako continues to rank nationally in the high jump, clearing 6-0 to hold the 12th spot.

Akron fans will get a final look at the Zips this Friday (Feb. 16) prior to hosting the 2007 MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, set for Feb. 23-24 in the Athletics Field House. See below for a time schedule for the 2007 Zips Open.

Tentative Time Schedule

6:55 pm Women's Pole Vault (Men's Pole Vault to follow, event conducted on infield)
7:00 Men's Long Jump

Women's Long Jump

7:05 Men's Weight Throw (Men's Shot put to follow)

Women's Shot Put (Women's Weight Throw to follow)

7:15 Men's Mile

Women's Mile

7:30 High jump

7:35 Men's 60m Hurdles

Women's 60m Hurdles

7:50 Men's 400

Women's 400